Run for Rex benefits school's beloved facility coordinator
By Caroline Gecker CONTRIBUTING WRITER

James River High School sophomore Ted Richardson (left) and senior Joey Wood lap the track during the "Run for Rex." The special event benefited Rex Henderson, the school's facility coordinator who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.

The classrooms at James River High School grew quiet when Principal John Titus announced that one of the most loved figures at the school, facility coordinator Rex Henderson, had colon cancer and would not be seen in the school's hallways for an indefinite period of time. Henderson, affectionately called "Rex" by students and staff alike, was much more than a facility coordinator at James River; he was a morning greeter, a smiling face and a friend.

Clubs immediately began to show an outpouring of support for Henderson, from sending him hundreds of "Get Well Soon" cards to caravanning to CJW Medical Center's Johnston Willis campus, where he was receiving treatment, on his birthday to sing to him from the parking lot.

But the most widespread show of support came in the form of the "Run for Rex," the Athletes Who Care (AWC) club's third annual charity run. Past runs have benefited the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and Richmond City's flooded A.V. Norrell Elementary School. This year's run was originally intended to benefit the American Heart Association, but as soon as AWC co-presidents Sarah Sheppard and Nicky Mitchell heard about Henderson's ailment, they decided to change the run's focus.

"Nicky and I had the idea right after we found out he was sick. We saw each other… and knew that we had to do [the run] for Rex," said Sarah. "Rex is part of the James River family…This event was our way to thank him for everything he does for us at JRHS and to wish him a speedy and healthy recovery."

The Run for Rex was held on Nov. 30. That afternoon, Henderson made a surprise visit to James River's pep rally at the end of the school day, prompting deafening chants of "We love Rex!" from the energized students. At the rally, James River's Do Something Club, a charity organization, presented Henderson with a "Rex is King" t-shirt, referring to the Latin meaning of the word "rex."

Moments later, Henderson walked down to the football stadium to ride the first lap around the track in a golf cart, followed by hundreds of student and faculty participators, who had pledged at least $1 for every mile they completed.

"It was awesome seeing everyone come together to help such a great man," said Jacob Schmitz, a James River junior who participated in the race.

While games of ultimate Frisbee and touch football were played on the stadium's football field, and hamburgers were grilled on the side of the track, the participants walked and ran for more than three hours on their way to earning almost $7,000, all of which went directly to Henderson and his family to help with medical expenses.

"Rex always gives so much to everybody," said AWC sponsor Pete Schumacher. "This was our chance to give back to him."